STRAWBERRIES. 1 8 5 



dry, a bed can be prepared as has been described. 

 If the soil is in good condition, rich and deep, it 

 can be dug thoroughly, and the plants set out at 

 once in the cool of the evening, or just before a 

 .shower. During the hot season a great advantage 

 is secured if the plants are set immediately after 

 the ground is prepared, and while the surface is 

 still moist. It is unfortunate if ground is made 

 ready and then permitted to dry out before plant- 

 ing takes place, for watering, no matter how 

 thorough, has not so good an influence in start- 

 ing new growth as the natural moisture of the soil. 

 It would be better, therefore, to dig the ground 

 late in the afternoon, and set out the plants the 

 same evening. Watering, however, should never 

 be dispensed with during warm weather, unless 

 there is a certainty of rain ; and even then it does 

 no harm. 



Suppose one wishes to set a new bed in July. 

 If he has strawberries growing on his place, his 

 course would be to let some of his favorite varie- 

 ties make new runners as early as possible. These 

 should be well-rooted young plants by the middle 

 of the month. After the new ground is prepared, 

 these can be taken up, with a ball of earth attached 

 to their roots, and carried carefully to their new 

 starting-place. If they are removed so gently as 

 not to shake off the earth from the roots, they will 



